Taipei - The Taiwan organizer of the 21st Summer Deaflympics came under criticism Monday for transportation chaos that caused difficulties for athletes and journalists covering the games. Competitors and reporters complained about the inconvenience of transportation between the 36 hotels accommodating the athletes and the competition venues in Taipei and suburbs.
To ensure their athletes arrive at competition venues on time, some participating countries have hired private vehicles for their own teams, press reports said.
Another complaint was that the official website of the games does not provide complete information on the events, and does not post the results in timely fashion.
Taipei spent six years and millions of dollars preparing for the Deaflympics, and Taiwan hopes that the successful hosting of the games could raise the island's international profile.
One problem was that workers built an eight-lane swimming pool at the Taipei Stadium, when an Olympic-size swimming poll should have 10 lanes. Because of the mistake, water sport events have to be held at a standard swimming pool in Hsinchu, two hours' drive from Taipei.
The Deaflympics opened at the Taipei Stadium Saturday evening and will continue until September 15, with 3,000 athletes from 80 nations and regions participating.
Previously called World Games for the Deaf, the competition was first launched in 1924 in Paris, and is held every four years.
To qualify for the games, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their "better ear." Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are banned in competition, to keep all athletes on the same level.
